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If antique furniture could talk, each piece would tell its own fascinating story. Even though you can't converse with a piece of antique maple bedroom furniture, you can do some investigative research to discover bits of historical information. Bring a touch of history into your bedroom space by incorporating one or more old maple pieces into your layout.

Find Out How Old

Solid maple bedroom furniture is not new to the United States -- in fact, the making of maple pieces dates back to America's early Colonial days. Maple furniture was crafted before well-known furniture names, such as Chippendale, Sheraton and Phyfe, came into vogue. The early Colonists replaced the wood from oak trees with natural maple for building and crafting a variety of furniture pieces thanks to several advantages. Maple wood is tougher than oak, less likely to split and has a more compact grain, which allows a smoother furniture finish. In addition, furniture made from maple wood is lighter than similar oak pieces, making it easier to move.

Real or an Imposter

You won't be fooled by a piece of bedroom furniture touted as a genuine maple antique when you know what to look for. Inspect the piece for atypical repetitive grain patterns in the wood, which often indicates a veneer imposter. In addition, look for natural growth rings in the wood, as well as a darkened patina that usually builds up over time on authentic maple antiques. Run your hand over the furniture to see if it has a smooth finish, which is characteristic of real maple furniture. And, if you can smell the aroma of freshly cut wood, the piece might be genuine maple, but it is certainly not an antique.

Bird or Tiger

Even though bedroom furniture crafted from maple wood long ago couldn't actually fly or roar, there are two types of maple -- birdseye and tiger maple -- that have names linked to bird and tiger images. Birdseye maple is grown naturally with a pattern that looks similar to a tiny, swirling eye, resembling the eye of a bird. This rare wood was sometimes used to build bedroom furniture during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. The tiger maple also lives up to its name, displaying distinctive curly or wavy patterns that mimic the stripes of a tiger. Furniture pieces crafted from tiger maple crested in Colonial America during the 18th century, but you can still outfit your bedroom with one or more of these stunning antique pieces today.

Matching It Up

Whether you're looking to create a new bedroom layout by furnishing the space with a complete antique maple bedroom set or simply want to add an antique piece or two to your existing layout, mixing old and new pieces can stir up intense visual interest. For example, add an antique maple dresser, rocking chair or small accent table to your current bedroom as a functional reminder of days gone by. Place a vase of fresh flowers on top of the table or dresser to bring the old piece back to life with colorful energy. Refresh an antique maple furniture set with stylish bedroom furnishings, such as Roman shades for the windows, modern canvas wall hangings and a pristine white, plush comforter and bedding ensemble.

About the Author

Mary Cockrill's education and certifications in interior design and home staging have allowed her to author numerous home-related articles. Cockrill has been a top design consultant for a renowned home store and is the owner of Starwood Home & Gifts, LLC, an interior design, decorating and home staging business. She holds a Bachelor of Science in secondary education with a comprehensive major in office administration.